The third head being speciallie meant of ane William Holt, Inglishman, that escapit out of the Castle of Edinburgh, His Majestie hes answerit the Queen of England’s embassadour, who movit his Grace in that matter not lang syne. It is not ane uncouth thing to hear such ane man escait; alwayes what they understand be ane indirect meanes used for letting him depart, his Majestie being speciallie informit thereof, will, after dew tryall, see the offenders punischit according to their deservyngs.
The fourth head being very generall, his Majestie thinks the Assemblie will not think it pertinent for them to haue vote in the chusing of his Majestie’s servants, or to be over curious of the occasione of the placeing or removeing of them, neither yet of the intelligence betwixt his Heines and any forraigne countries, for enterteyning of civill peace and amitie, ffrom the quhilk na princes nor commonwealthes in the world abstaines, although being diverse in religione.
The fifth head concernyng the generall complaynt upon some speciall matters appeirandly expressit in the matters following:—His Majestie wishes the Assembly, as they wald be speciallie and directly answerit, so to forme their petitions, fforbearing any particular examples, to ground generall propositions, and to remember that his Majestie took the Government in his awne persone, there is no good and profitable lawes made for the advancement of the Kirk, and trew religione, nor of before, the default of the executione thereof, and performance of promise notwithstanding in his Heines’ default.
The sixth, meining especiallie of the Tack sett to the Laird of Seagy of certaine victualls furth of the superplus of the thrids, qwhilk he had of before in pensione,—that was nae new forme, nor any wayes prohibite. He could alseweill content him with the pensione, as he had it of before, frie of all payment of dewtie. The necessar considerationes that movit the granting thereof, are weill enough knawne to many. He is imployit in publick service, wanting the living qwhairunto he is provydit in title, dureing his father’s lyfetyme, and his service is, and may be, necessar both for his Heines and the Kirk.
For any thing that may be thocht omittit toward provisione of ministers, serving at the kirks annexit to abbeyes in the late dispositiones of them, that is well supplied be act of Parliament, the executione qwhairof hes rather stayed thir twa yeares past in their awne default, or wtherwayes, they craving to haue their assignationes continewit, as in the years preceiding, and as yet not haveing directlie answerit to his Majestie’s message, sent with his Maister of Requests, to the Assembly halden at St Andrews, &c. Alwayes his Majestie made choice of certaine barrones, and uthers of good appearance, knawne zealous to the furtherance of that good wark, lipning to haue had the assignationes formed before the Assemblie: But being uncertaine of the tyme appoyntit, therefore, this year, is doubtful if they cum in Edinburgh, qwhere, if they be, his Heines shall send directione to them to proceid, or in caise of their absence, shall appoynt wthers, so as the assignationes may proceid, and so wther things as are most needfull resolvit, without any farther delay.
Touching giving of spirituall livings to bairnes, and translating them in temporall lordships, His Majestie considers his awne skaith and hinderance of his service. Therein qwhatever abuse hes interit before his Heines acceptit the government, tyme, and the approbationes of such provisiones be decreits of the Sessione, hes brought the matter to that estate, as it cannot be utherwayes helpit then be the Parliament, qwhom unto these being proponit, his Majestie sould hald hand to haue such reformatione in this behalfe as possiblie can be obtaynit.
The default of punischment of wthers mentionat in the nynt head, and of the Act of Provisione of the Poore and Punisching of Vagabonds, man not be justly impute to his Hienes, qwho hes ever been willing and readie to grant commissione to such as the ministers thocht meitest to execute the same, qwherin inabilitie was in the judges ordinar.
The tenth heid being generall, His Majestie wald be glad not only to haue it explainit, but to hear all good advyces that shall be offerit to him for the reformatione of that qwhilk shall be found amiss, and how his lawes may have place, and justly ministrat to the comfort and commone benefite of all his good subjects.
The elevinth head is also very generall, and for the only one example that hes beene spoken of to his Heines, touching the removeing of the Principall of the Colledge of Aberdeine to be minister of St Androis, His Majestie trusts the Assembly will not think that matter, the substance weill considerit, either so proper to the Kirk, or so improper to the civill estate, but that his Hines and Counsell had good ground and reasone to direct his letters as he did upon the Generalls of the North Countrie, wharin nane was prejudgit—seing their was no charge conteyning power to denunce at the first, but rather to doe the thing requyrit, or compeir and schaw ane cause in the contrair.